2Sustain

Building on the success of the program it introduced in the US last fall, UPS has expanded carbon neutral shipping to 35 countries and territories across Europe, Asia and the Americas.

That means, starting this week, millions more UPS customers now have the option of paying a small fee to calculate and offset the carbon emissions associated with their shipments. (In the United States, the small fee ranges from $0.05 for a ground package and $0.20 for an air package to $0.75 for an international package. Outside the United States, UPS says the small flat fee will vary slightly by country depending on the type of service selected and the origin and destination of the shipment.) (more…)

Late last month, United Airlines completed the first flight by a U.S. commercial airline using natural gas synthetic jet fuel.

Specifically, this was  an “engineering validation” flight conducted using a certified synthetic jet fuel (RenJet) produced by Rentech, Inc. and approved for commercial use. RenJet was used in a 40/60 mix with conventional Jet A fuel in one of two engines on an Airbus 319 aircraft.

RenJet is derived from natural gas and converted to liquid fuel, and it’s considered a “drop-in” fuel –which means that it can be used in existing engines with no modifications required. (more…)

Last week, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a new initiative to move more cargo on the water rather than on the nation’s crowded highways.

Under these new regulations, regional transportation officials will be able to apply to have specific transportation corridors – and even individual projects—designated by the DOT as a “marine highway” if they meet certain criteria.  Once designated, these projects will receive preferential treatment for any future federal assistance from DOT or the Department’s Maritime Administration (MARAD). (more…)

Last week, the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners adopted a strict ban on “dirty” trucks effective January 1, 2010. The move goes beyond regulations already in place in the state of California and underscores the Port Board’s continued efforts to clean the air in and around Oakland.

“This is another step that clearly demonstrates our commitment to a healthy community,” Port Board President Victor Uno says. “The strict truck ban will help us achieve our goal of reducing the health risk from diesel pollution from seaport sources.” (more…)

Would you wait an extra day or two for a package to be delivered to you if you knew that by doing so you were reducing GHG emissions for that delivery by say, 100 pounds of CO₂? How do you think shoppers, in general, would respond to that sort of eco-friendly shipping option? As retailers scramble to both “go green” and reduce costs, they’re starting to rethink traditional shipping strategies. What’s your opinion? Is it time to directly integrate customers into sustainability initiatives? Are there other ways retailers can minimize the environmental impact of shipping?

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